Page 26 of Woven Souls

“So many, what?” Theo walks back to stand in front of her.

Viktor and Kwil move closer too, their bodies tense and ready to act to some unseen threat.

“Spirits.”

I look around again, expecting her to make them appear, but the yard and street remain spirit-free.

“Something is so wrong here,” she adds. With a scowl, Willow throws up her hand in frustration. “Okay, okay, I hear you all! But there are four hundred— oh sorry,five hundred and six, according to that guy over there, versus one of me, so please stop yelling at me!”

“Willow, we need to go,” Theo says, watching her closely.

“Give her a second. Imagine having that many people yelling at you,” I snap at him. “Don’t add to it.”

Theo presses his mouth into a tight line, but thankfully falls silent.

“Look, I promise I’ll sit and listen to each of you when I get back, but I’m kind of busy right now.” Willow tells the unseen spirits. “Yeah, just— yeah, yes,yes!”

Her eyes dim and then focus on me and Theo.

“Alright, now we can go.”

Theo nods. He and the others turn and head back towards the cars. Willow and I follow, but when we get to the end of the front pathway, I pull us both to a halt. I wait until the other three are a few feet away.

“Don’t speak to spirits while you’re with this warlock tonight, Willow,” I whisper.

Confusion brings her brows together before understanding dawns and smooths them back into place.

“You’re worried that he’ll notice my ability to speak to spirits comes too easily for a necromancer.”

I nod.

“Fredrick wants you for something, Willow, or he wouldn’t have sent Margaret after you. Waving your abilities in front of him will only entice him to do something drastic to get his hands on you, so be careful. Promise me you won’t use your power around him.”

She cups my face and smiles at me.

“This warlock can’t hurt me, but yes, I promise not to use my power.”

The confidence in her voice confuses me, but with the others nearby I don’t want to ask why she feels like she’s not in any real danger.

“He’s cursed you,” I remind her. “Don’t let him do anything else.”

Her smile shifts and her eyes glow.

“Relax, Jonah. Tonight, everything is going to go smoothly.”

I certainly hope so.

Chapter7

WILLOW

“Stop fidgeting.”

Viktor’s sharp command, full of irritation, pulls me from my anxious thoughts. Blinking rapidly, I try to dispel the sinking feeling in my stomach.

“I’m not fidgeting.” I don’t pull my attention away from the bright lights flying by. The house Theo has us in is just on the outskirts of this beautiful city, so it won’t take us long to get to the restaurant. I wonder at the location of this home. Why did Theo choose a place so close to other houses and around people? There has to be a reason. There’salwaysa reason behind Theo’s decisions.

“Yes, you are. Cut it out. You’re making me anxious.”